The Most Satisfying Course in Life

Elder Christofferson related the following in the most recent general conference: “I once read an article by a poorly informed newspaper reporter who explained that the way we perform baptisms for the dead is to immerse rolls of microfilm in water. Then all those whose names appear on the microfilm are considered baptized. That approach would be efficient, but it ignores the infinite worth of each soul and the critical importance of a personal covenant with God.” As amusing as that idea is, it does beg the question why we don’t do things more “efficiently” in the temple and do ordinances there in some kind of bulk fashion. Elder Christofferson helped explain: “‘[Jesus] said … : Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.’ Figuratively speaking, this gate is so narrow that it allows only one to enter at a time. Each one makes an individual commitment to God and in return receives from Him a personal covenant, by name, that he or she can rely on implicitly in time and eternity.” When we do an ordinance in the temple for someone who has passed away, we do it one at a time. Though certainly we could get the work done faster if, for example, each baptism performed was for many people at once or if we could do a single endowment session while representing multiple ancestors, the Lord wants each individual to individually covenant to follow Him. I like this idea that the gate itself is so narrow that we can’t go through two at a time—we each must make and keep covenants on our own to be able to walk through the gate to eternal life.

               These ideas highlight the need for each of us to learn to choose for ourselves to follow the Savior. One of the lessons that we are trying to teach our oldest children is that they need to stand up for themselves and choose the right no matter what their peers at school choose to do. That is difficult for kids in elementary school who want to be liked and fit in, and it can be difficult for all of us at any age to choose the covenant path when those seeking to influence around us choose differently. It is usually not comfortable to not be part of the crowd. But the scriptures are clear that we must learn to use our agency on our own—we alone are responsible for whether we will one day walk (alone) through that gate. Lehi put it this way: “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27). Each of us, no matter our position in life, is free to choose or reject the Savior. Lehi’s son Jacob said similarly, “Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life” (2 Nephi 10:23). Even if we are in some kind of bondage in mortality, we are always free spiritually to act for ourselves and choose the way of eternal life. Samuel the Lamanite talked about our agency in these words: “And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free” (Helaman 14:30). Though certainly our experiences and trials and opportunities are heavily influenced by the actions of the people around us outside our control, in the end we will only be able to blame ourselves for the choices we make in those circumstances.  

Joshua famously said to the people of Israel, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Each day we must individually choose to serve the Lord and walk His covenant path no matter what others choose around us. If we do, we will have the “almost incomprehensible gift to help covenant-makers be covenant-keepers: the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This gives us the “right to the constant companionship, protection, and guidance of the Holy Spirit” which “filleth with hope and perfect love.” And that is, as Elder Christofferson testified, “the happiest and most satisfying course in life.”